Water Garden Blog Water Lilies and Pond Plants » Interviews & Experts

Video of my friend Mike Giles Purple Hardy Waterlilies

admin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 10:01:23 +0000

I know I have gone a month without a post and that is not common for me as it is some other blogs. I promise the amount of documented content I have gathered on trips this year will be worth it. I spent the past few days with my friend Mike Giles and many, many of his blue and purple hardy waterlilies. I have video of many of the purple lilies and some photos Mike shared with me of the blue hardy lilies. Soon we will also be posting video of about an hour long documentary of Mikes rise in the water garden industry the past 7 years or so. So many great hardy hybrids are now being followed with so many great purple and blue hardy x tropical crosses.

Here is just a peek at what Mike will be bringing to market in the next 2-3 years. Also our friends in Florida have followed in the footsteps of Pairat Songpanich and Mike Giles with more urple hardy waterlilies. Both the blue and purple hardy lilies have been slow too reproduce so they will probably become available 1 or 2 years more slowly than a normal hardy lily. Many of the pink and red lilies multiply faster and could be available sooner.

Mike also has some lilies with blooms nearly the size of a gallon container and in cool weather stay open 6 to 12 days.

More information coming here soon and more waterlilies coming to Pond Megastore.

Lotus Root Salad

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 23:48:12 +0000

On my aquatic adventures this year I was able to eat lotus in 3 spots. With my friend Laura in Alabama who introduced me to lotus seeds. Yummy! In Sarasota with my friend Paula Biles at the first Lotus festival I tried Lotus Salad. A pickled lotus in rice vinegar, sweetened. Finally, I went Kayaking through Lotus (Native Lutea) at Mt. Harmon at their lotus festival with my friends Kelly Billing and Matt Billing. Here we had some really fresh lotus seed. If you pick them before they dry they are like peas or beans.

Kayaking through the native Nelumbo Lutea was incredible and by far the coolest experience of our 2011 adventures. More on that in an upcoming post. Here is a video of Mr. Mel Yoshimura who brought his pickled lotus root, or lotus root salad to the Sarasota Lotus Festival in July.

Enjoy.

Lotus Seedling with Tony Moore

admin — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:10:16 +0000

Today Tony Moore, creator of such new waterlilies as the incredible Ruby Star and Black Cherry shares a lotus seedling growing out of the seed. Enjoy in full screen.

Waterily Seedlings

admin — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 09:09:31 +0000

Today Mike Giles shows us many of his new hardy blue and purple waterlilies. These intersubgeneric waterlilies, Hardy x Tropical crosses are many of the first from North America. Mike has been crossing them since 2005 and these are the first ever videos of the plants.

Beginning in 2012 PondMegastore.com will have exclusive sales rights to the first of Mike Giles hardy waterlilies hybrids. Myra, Sunfire, Fairy Skirt, Yellow Giant, and Hunneycup. In 2013 as long as production goes well we will then bring you the first Purple and Blue hardy waterlilies from Mike Giles.

More Soon….
Zac – water-garden-blog.com / http://www.PondMegastore.com

Purple Satin, The Purple Hardy Waterlily by Mike Giles

admin — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:29:42 +0000

We hope these waterlilies will some day soon be available from PondMegastore.com. Purple Satin or one of the many new purple and blue hardy brother and sister plants created by Mike Giles. Last week I went and visited Mike on his farm and documented the first video of the Purple and Blue hardy waterlilies. All Hardy x Tropical crosses, even some Hardy x Tropical night blooming crosses. Mike has hundreds of waterlilies in the pipeline we cannot wait to share with everyone but today is the day to introduce his video of Purple Satin. I will let Mike tell you about this one of many.

Planting your lotus tubers…

admin — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:49:38 +0000

This week we planted many of the newer Chinese Lotus from Laura and Bill Bancroft so why not post both the photos of the potted plants and instructions from three of the best Lotus growers one could find.

From Expert Growers Laura Bancroft, Bill Bancroft, and Dr. Ken Tilt:

“Put several inches of good topsoil – just plain dirt – into the pot. This topsoil can be purchased in bags at a garden center or dug from your pond bottom or yard. Do not use potting soil; it is too light and will float and foam when water is added and the lotus rhizomes tend to float when planted in it. Add enough water to raise the water level to about 2-3” above the soil. Place the tuber into the mud with the growing tips pointed up. Chinese growers leave the ‘tail’, the cut end, of the lotus root above water for a few days. Try not to cover the growing tips completely with soil. In a few days the true roots, small hair-like projections, will grow and anchor the tuber into the soil. Place the pot in a warm, sunny area. Be sure to replace the water as it evaporates.

The growing tips will soon give way to the first small leaves, called coin leaves. These leaves will float on the surface of the water as they begin the process of photosynthesis to help provide energy for the plant to grow. Within a few days the first aerial leaf will emerge from the water. At this time you can begin to raise the level of the water in the pot. When the weather outside has warmed up and chances of freezing have passed your lotus can be placed on your patio or put into your pond, preferably in full sun. Remember to plant the smaller varieties of lotus in shallower water than large varieties.

*Planting Lotus in Containers
Any water-tight rounded container with no holes is acceptable for growing lotus. The size of the pot is determined by the type of lotus you are growing with larger varieties requiring larger pots. The mature size of a lotus will be affected by the size of the pot in which it grows. Using a bigger pot allows more room for rhizome production, thus resulting in more and larger leaves and flowers. Larger pots will encourage the lotus to grow to the larger extreme for their variety. Planting the same lotus in a healthy pond environment will allow it to reach its full potential resulting in a plant much larger than if it had been planted in a small pot. Lotus classified as Exquisites of Bowl Lotus are prized for their ability to grow in the smallest pots, producing miniature lotus that can be brought inside easily for a day or two when they are in bloom.”
*Suggested pot sizes are:
Tea Cup or Exquisite of Bowl lotus: pot less than 11″ in diameter
Small or Bowl lotus – pot 12-15″ in diameter
Dwarf lotus – 16-20″ in diameter
Medium lotus – 18-30″ in diameter
Large lotus – 24-48″ in diameter

Waterlily and pond plant nursery!

admin — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 21:46:57 +0000

Everything is ready to be shipped to homes, the lilies are bright and lively. Today we have a video of our packing of pond plants and waterlilies and a look at some plants growing in the Nursery. You will see dwarf papyrus, society flower or socity garlic in bloom, Louisiana Iris, frog bit, waterlily growing pools and some more.

Jennifer Rebecca, by Ken Landon

admin — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:52:46 +0000

One of my very favorite waterlilies from Ken Landon he developed back around 1990 and has been in the trade for a few years.

Jennifer Rebecca is a very deep red nightblooming waterlily that can stay open very late each morning and will not wilt as other deep red waterlilies do in the summer heat. Ken used Trudy Slocum and red flare in multiple crosses to get this very tolerant and high performance night bloomer. If you ever want to try a red night blooming pond plant this is the one.

Night bloomers often begin blooming a couple weeks later in the summer than tropical day bloomers so give it a couple weeks to establish but the blooms will last until frost. They also tuber easily and can be overwintered as tubers indoors!

Click the video to see the flowers and story of the Jennifer Rebecca waterlily by Ken Landon. This waterlily is for sale at Pond Megastore.

Pond Outlaws, Texas water plant legislation to sweep more states.

admin — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:19:25 +0000

[UPDATE 1/27/2011: see the Jan 27th post where the Plant Ban is currently pulled from becoming new law]

Water Garden regulation is about to sweep the nation. Texas is finalizing the white list of approved Aquatic Plants. Soon all Taro (over 100 types of Elephant ears), Papyrus, Cattails, Creeping Jenny, and a number of other long time favorites of water gardens will be outlawed in Texas with fines of $2000 per incident.

New York, Maryland, and other states are already voicing that they intend to copy this new law prohibiting 100s of Aquatic Plants and destroying business. Why? Much of this has to do with boating. Hydrilla which travels from lake to lake on the bottom of unwashed boats is overtaking waterways. Giant salvinia can also travel like this. Both plants were restricted in Texas (a black list) which is fine. However the legislation passed in 2009 now states only studied and approved plants should be sold to the state. That leaves a very short list of plants to be sold.

As this legislation comes to more and more states the water garden industry will shrink considerably. Also the aquarium trade will be hit as the list does not include 43 aquarium plants common within that trade.

Normally Texas is a pro-business state but this really puts a dent in that thinking. Again this legislation is being copied right now in at least 3 states that we know of and as most laws will continue spreading.

This will hurt both aquarium hobbyists, pet industry jobs, water garden installers, aquatic plant growers and customers and pond societies. Complaints have come in from Canada as to concerns that they will not be able to order plants from Texas in the future due to this regulation.

See two news articles below with comments from our friends Tim Davis, Brandon McLane, and Rolf Nelson.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/01/15/2771870/texas-plan-to-combat-invasive.html

http://www.petproductnews.com/headlines/2011/01/12/texas-updates-white-list-of-aquatic-plants.aspx

Ken Landon: Magnificent work

admin — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 12:24:52 +0000

Ken Landon of the International Waterlily Collection in San Angelo Texas is often featured on this blog for his many accomplishments. Today we are publishing his introduction video of “Blue Cloud”. This is one of the best attractions to Civic League Park, and Australian waterlily from Gigantea crossed back over and over again over the years to improve petal count and cold tolerance (the only downfall of many Australian nymphaea).

Below that I will post again the video with Tim Davis which has footage of the larger plants taken in September 2010 shortly prior to the Symposium and LilyFest. Ken’s video up first was taken in June 2010.

LOTUS removing an established area.

admin — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:57:31 +0000

Bill Bancroft brought “Peach with Raindrops” a hybrid lotus to a farm pond on his property that had not had any lotus introduced to it. The lotus began spreading quickly along the shore and by the following summer had established an area a couple hundred feet in diameter.

Luckily he told me there was nothing to worry about when I asked if the lotus would overtake the pond. RoundUp, which is a common weed killer found in any big box store and hardware store in the country carries most of the year can be applied to kill lotus without harming other aquatic life.

Lotus are connected through long rhizome like tubers often many many yards long. A siple spritz should kill most of the plant connected by the root. It may take more than one application on long growing areas but the method is quick and simple he explains.

After the lotus is browned you can clean up the area or reintroduce perhaps a new color to the area. POND PLANTS such as Lotus are available seasonally at http://www.PondMegastore.com .

Lotus ‘Apricot Pink’

admin — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 18:42:25 +0000

Bill Bancroft briefly introduces us to one of the newly imported Chinese Lotus “Apricot Pink”. Beginning as a pink flower upon opening it fades in the sunlight more to a cream or white lotus by the time each bloom is nearly finished.

Apricot Pink is a wonderful bloomer and can bloom from 6 weeks after planting until frost. Lotus are easy to overwinter in most of the united states. Leave them where they grow shallowly in the pond and only trim foliage back to just above the waterline. The stems are hollow and the tuber (roots) like to be able to breath. In spring before its warm enough to start foliage you can harvest the new tubers and replant them or let them grow a few seasons without replanting.

Lotus should have a wide shallow container with some good substrate. Fertilize only after there is an arial leaf and repeat until August.

Apricot pink can be purchased seasonally online and shipped almost anywhere in the USA from Feb-June or July.
See Lotus at PondMegastore.com

Representative Drew Darby helps on the Texas White List

admin — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 10:46:06 +0000

[UPDATE 1/27/2011: see the Jan 27th post where the Plant Ban is currently pulled from becoming new law]

If you have not heard, the Texas legislature passed a goofy if not terrible bill banning all aquatic plants (pond plants) not listed on a government approved “white list” beginning January 1st 2011. Passed in 2009 without much public knowledge in an effort to look “green” the consequences to the aquatic plant industry looked grim. Rolf Nelson of Nelson’s water Gardens in Katy Texas really took the lead in an effort to bring proper attention to the bad law that would possible ban all waterlilies, lotus, aquarium plants, and more.

The International Waterlily Collection in San Angelo may have to be scrapped due to this government intervention. Drew Darby who represents the San Angelo area in Texas going back to 2006 is now and has been for some months actively involved in trying to fix the legislation that gives Texas Parks and Wildlife control of something they know absolutely nothing about. Texas Parks have almost killed off the native Texas Waterlily Nymphaea elegans since taking over its care now found in only 2 bodies of water out of the original 17.

Special thank you from Ken Landon to Drew Darby and a new possible amendment.

I don’t have a video of the special thanks to Rolf Nelson but some real thanks is due to him. If your ever around Katy Texas outside Houston plesae look them up!

New Nymphaea Nightblooming Species from India, Celon Pink

admin — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:06:59 +0000

Brought to trade in Thailand but found in India, the IWPR has recently finished research into this plant named Celon Pink prior to the study. This night bloomer is very nice with light pink outer sepals and white interior petals and bright yellow stamens.

Tim Davis and Ken Landon speak briefly about this exciting new species.

Enjoy a first look at this species in High definition (enlarge to fullscreen if you can).

Victoria Waterlilies, up close with Tim Davis

admin — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:20:21 +0000

About two nights before the 2010 International Waterlily and Water Garden Society Symposium and Lilyfest 2010 Civic League Park was very ready for the onset of tourists. Tim Davis took our camera down into the perfect main pool for some up close shots of Victoria Cruziana and Victoria Longwood. He shows you the emerging pads, buds, and a lot of the thorns up close on these might big waterlilies. Ken Landon and Zac make a short appearance from above the pool at dusk.

Enjoy in Full Screen High Definition!
Ken Landon has a great crew and volunteer organization that supports his annual efforts to put on an incredible display for folks from all around the world.

Tim Davis is a supporter of the International Waterlily Collection that makes many seven hour, week long pilgrimages from Houston Texas each year. It is clear that waterlilies are more than a full tim hobby for tim. He also runs the websites for the IWC and IWGS.

Brandon McLane (Part 1) Hybridizing Waterlilies

admin — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 11:05:27 +0000

The History of Florida Aquatic Nurseries goes back 50 years and the water garden division stems back to the early 1990s. Brandon McLane (3rd Generation family business after Dr. William and Brad, his grandfather and father respectively) introduces a brief history of chance seedlings from Blue Spider, William McLane, to Key Lime, Bull’s Eye, and Ultra Violet. Part 1 of his presentation at the 2010 IWGS symposium. Enjoy some waterlily history in HD.

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT – World introduction to Ken Landon’s Tropical Waterlily Tuber Storage up to 10 years.

admin — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:16:14 +0000

This video is exclusive, it can be shared with permission. Ken Landon recently (Sept 2010) shared his way of tropical lily tuber storage. For years the jar sand method over 1 season has resulted in about 20% mortaility. That of course is not good especially when you have nearly 2000 lilies and 90% of the worlds species material.

Ken explains that for hybridization you need species plants as eventually you run into crappy mutation or genetics just break down and you stop getting nice plants.

Ken still intends on traveling the world to grab some more species material like ‘burtii’ which was lost after Dr. George H Pring’s work with it.

Please watch the 4 part series in FULL SCREEN (720p High Definition) with sound on. Please if ever writiing about the technique be sure to give Mr. Landon credit for bringing this revelation to the public. Enjoy!

Part 1 of 5

Part 2 of 5

Part 3 of 5

Part 4 of 5

BONUS Question & Answer with Ken Landon (Part 5)

Showstopper “Blue Cloud”

admin — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 05:03:41 +0000

The ULTIMATE Waterlily. Ken Landon crossed and back crossed a semi cool tolerant Austrailian. He also has this in a yellow and pink variety though has yet to release them.

Some of these blooms are 6 inches bigger then an adult mans head.

Cleaning up Victoria Waterlilies with Ken Landon

admin — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:54:32 +0000

Live update, the ponds have been cleaned. Let Lilyfest begin!

St. Louis Marmorata (1917)

admin — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:22:08 +0000

More live from Lilyfest 2010. From IWC San Angelo, TX. George Pring’s Unreleased N. St. Louis Marmorata

Come see N. St. Louis Marmorata. This is a waterlily that was unreleased to the trade by Mr. Pring. It was one of the crosses created in attempt to create a yellow hybrid lily. It is of major historical interest because it was a very early hybrid of Mr. Pring’s. He did not like it because it was not yellow enough to suit his tastes. It is more of a cream color. He later came up with N. St. Louis. N. St. Louis is no longer found in the trade but was significant as the first yellow hybrid. It was a cross from N. burttii. N. burttii is the same flower that Ken used to create the first yellow star lily.

This hybrid has been around since the early 1930′s at least. The original plant material was given to Ken Landon to keep as a caretaker for posterity. He has kept it alive and grew it out this year to show some genuine history to people who might be casual waterlily observers. In addition to the historical significance it is also a great plant from the perspective of a hybridizer. It is a very large flower in relation to the size of the pads. The pads are just a little larger than the flower which is huge. The pictures below illustrate a flower that was about 6 inches across in the few days I was able to observe it. It has pretty mottled pads as well.